The Fall Jazz Concert will be held today at 7:30 p.m. in the Rothwell Recital Hall. Admission is free.
“It is going to be a really great concert, something everybody will enjoy,” trumpeter Hannah Sartain said.
Rick Condit, director of jazz ensembles and associate professor of saxophone, said that he sees the concert as living history.
“Jazz music was born in New Orleans about a hundred years ago with a combination of influences,” he said. “As it is the only original American art form it has a special place in history. During the 1930s and 40s, before and into World War II, the style of music that we represent was the most important pop music that existed. Everybody, regardless of their background, turned on a radio and wanted to listen to music that what they wanted to hear and that’s what they expected to hear.”
The Fall Jazz Concert will feature the Cardinal Jazz Orchestra, directed by Condit, with special guest trumpeter Dennis Dotson from Houston.
“Dennis Dotson is a legendary Jazz trumpet player that went to Sam Houston State in the ’60s and has been to Lamar several times before over the years,” Condit said, “He is the most respected Jazz trumpet player, not just in Houston, but in the region. He’s played with every major artist that comes through town. He is very highly respected, seasoned and legendary.”
The students are mostly music majors and they practice a lot on their own, Condit said.
“It has taken them a long time individually to get up to the level where they are able to play this kind of level,” he said. “We play professional-level music.”
Saxophone player Dakota Ard said the students work hard to put on a good show.
“We are a really talented group and we are really good,” he said.
Condit said jazz is still an important kind of music.
“It’s powerful, it’s exciting and it features improvisation, which is spontaneous creativity,” he said. “It’s exciting to watch that and see that happen.
“It’s great music. It’s art music. It’s Americana. It’s important historically.
“We are representing living history, and we are also trying to build and perpetuate an audience of people to appreciate jazz music and continue to support jazz music.”
For more information, visit lamar.edu/music.
Story by Tiana Johnson, UP contributor